Florida Key Definitions

Key legal terms defined in Florida Statutes, particularly Chapter 61 (Dissolution of Marriage; Support).

Custody & Family Law

Parental Responsibility - Privileges, powers, duties, and authority relating to a child (Florida term)
Shared Parental Responsibility - Equal or substantial involvement of both parents
Rebuttable Presumption - Legal assumption that can be overcome with contrary evidence
Best Interest of the Child - Legal standard for custody decisions
Parenting Plan - Agreement between parents regarding custody and visitation
Time-Sharing - Scheduled periods when each parent has responsibility for the child (Florida term)

Dissolution of Marriage - Legal termination of a marriage (divorce or dissolution in Florida)
Marital Property - Assets acquired during the marriage subject to equitable distribution
Child Support - Financial obligation for child’s expenses
Alimony - Support paid by one spouse to another (also called maintenance)
Equitable Distribution - Fair division of marital assets

Rebuttable - Can be overcome by clear and convincing evidence
Clear and Convincing Evidence - Higher standard than “preponderance of the evidence”
Abuse or Neglect - Grounds to overcome shared parental responsibility presumption